Large Scale Central

Dude, you're getting a...pain in the ---!

General Discussion
#1

I’ve been using a Dell Latitude D610 notebook running XP for some time, and it has worked quite well. I’m mostly happy with it.

However, I recently decided to buy a new one. Since this one worked, I went back to Dell, got a Inspiron 1525, not a bad machine, sleek, good price, but has a serious case of indigestion running the factory installed Vista. Blink to white screen, flicker to black screen, momentary freezes…Reloading the Vista disc makes the problem go away…for about 3-4 hours. Called Dell’s Tech support a week ago…Guy said it must be a virus that we got online…except this one had never been hooked up to the net or anything else, or had anything else loaded on it. Got disconnected, but it was working OK…for a few hours. So I called their 24/7 premium “Dell on Call” customer support line bright and early today to try to get it fixed. got Perma hold instead, 15 minutes of the same recording, nobody answered the phone. Got a bit annoyed so tried another number, it answered but the guy was in Pakistan or someplace. I couldn’t understand him very well, and he couldn’t understand me either. He went to “check the file”…and hung up on me!

Third time is the charm, right? Called back, got another guy in Pakistan. This guy told me there must be something wrong with the video driver ookay… Then he said that every time it did it we should reset the computer instead of loading the Vista backup disc…which of course would wipe any programs or data we might choose to add once we start using this thing. I said that was unacceptable.

He transferred me to somebody else who gave me a choice of paying $200 for XP (which would cure the problem but which loading would void the warantee) OR sending it back and ordering another new machine. It goes back, but I’m not too sure I’ll be ordering another one. Why can’t they just fix the stupid thing?

#2

Its vista. I try like heck to stay away from new OS when they first come out. You would think that Microsoft would do a better jop of programming but they don’t. As much as I love PC over Apple I do have to say that Apple does a better job with there OS systems then Microsoft.

I keep hopping that my computer with XP keeps holding out for me. I hated to lose the old one with 2000 but time took its toll on that one. I know this deosn’t help solve your problem.

#3

Wouldn’t touch Vista with a 10 foot pole. Look around and see if you can find what you want on closeout with XP installed, or get one with nothing installed and install your own XP. Tiger Direct would be a good place to start looking. I’ve never owned a computer with the OS already installed…:confused: Of course, I don’t use a laptop either.

#4

I bought a new Dell last spring and it came with Vista. Everything was slow, but file transfers to my computer downstairs took forever. First, Vista has to spend time estimating how long the job will take. One estimate was for over 60,000 days. Also had problems with the new WinMail as it kept corrupting my data.

I tried to get a deal from Dell on switching to XP, but they wanted over $200. Thanks for being a customer, I guess. I found it for $140. But, when I called up Premium Dell Support they wouldn’t help me get drivers, because I hadn’t bought from them.

Now, I’m back on XP and I am amazed at how fast the computer has become.

Next time, it WILL be a Mac.

#5

they should pay us the customer $200 up front for having to deal with the foreign call center people had one a while back had to phonetically pronounce every syllable for her! But thats another story! a apple b boy c chump d dit me another person right?lolhttp://

(www.lscdata.com/users/blueregal/_forumfiles/vulturemainpic.jpg)

#6

I don’t want to advocate bootlegging of OS disks, but… I’ve noticed at work, where I have multiple Dell machines and numerous Dell XP disks, none of which are labeled for which PC they belong to: The PC doesn’t care, the OS Disk doesn’t care. Any Dell OS disk will install on any Dell PC, no questions asked or registration required. That is not to say that a Dell XP CD will have the proper drivers for a new machine, but you can usually download them from their website for free.

I think it really sucks that Dell wants to charge $200 to downgrade the OS when you could just borrow an XP disk from another Dell and it would probably work fine.

Repeat after Bruce… [color=red]VISTA SUCKS - VISTA SUCKS - VISTA SUCKS[/color]

Jon

#7

The problem (as described to me by a friend who builds computers and writes websites in Cold Fusion) seems to be partly a compatibility issue as much as a video driver one. He thinks that something with Vista is changing values in the video driver when it self updates and causing it to glitch. His solution was to see if I could download a newer driver from the manufacturer’s website (not Dell’s)…Unfortunately, it seems doing that would also compromise the warantee.

I’m actually MORE frustrated with the customer service at the moment than the original problem. They would not even consider me taking it to the authorized repair guy here in town, and having him make it right (faster, easier, maybe even cheaper)…they want me to return it and wait for them to build me a new one

#8
geoff george said:
I try like heck to stay away from new OS when they first come out. You would think that Microsoft would do a better jop of programming but they don't...
Hmm, consumers as beta testers... Sounds vaguely familiar. ;)

Later,

K

#9
Kevin Strong said:
geoff george said:
I try like heck to stay away from new OS when they first come out. You would think that Microsoft would do a better jop of programming but they don't...
Hmm, consumers as beta testers... Sounds vaguely familiar. ;)

Later,

K


Right. And we scream like hell when a toy manufacturer releases something buggy - but when a manufacturer of software that many people’s livelihood depends on releases crap, the bugs are accepted as normal for a first release. Bill has us all (except you lucky Mac guys) brainwashed.

Jon

#10

I can’t say that those that are computer geeks accept bugs as normal on a new release. They scream and holler just as we do about our trains. Just as we do, many there opt to wait for the service pack 2.

#11
geoff george said:
Its vista. I try like heck to stay away from new OS when they first come out. You would think that Microsoft would do a better jop of programming but they don't. As much as I love PC over Apple I do have to say that Apple does a better job with there OS systems then Microsoft.

I keep hopping that my computer with XP keeps holding out for me. I hated to lose the old one with 2000 but time took its toll on that one. I know this deosn’t help solve your problem.


That’s why our new desktop is going to be the 24" iMac, and NOT a Vista-loaded anything.

Looks v spiffy as well, not that I’m THAT impressed, y’unnerstan’.

tac

#12

Vista has serious driver issues. Since it costs manufacturers plenty to produce those drivers, they’re leery about spending money on an OS that may not be with us for any length of time. Remember Windows ME?

There are some who feel OEM manufacturers are dragging their feet about producing Vista drivers for their products (e.g., printers) because they regard Vista as an “interim” operating system. Only time will tell.

Re support, don’t think it’s just Dell. I have a simple rule about PCs - if it’s not supported locally, forget it. That means we pay more, but we usually get the service we need, when we need it, and there is no language barrier to contend with.

I wish I could apply the same rule to software, but it’s impractical. If it’s any consolation to you, it’s not just individual consumers who have to put up with what Microsoft defines as “service”.

That said, the standard varies. We’ve had some brilliant technical support responses over the years, and some that were in “the less said, the better” category. Generally speaking, we get a better result (well, at least a faster result) working with a support contact in Australia, but we have had some good results from overseas technical support. It’s a lottery.

#13

drats

#14

I know folks at Gates and Co. who keep a second drive with XP so they will actually have something that works.

Dell?
Never again.
Last system we bought was a Dell.
Stuff didn’t work, and it was MY fault for buying things on their “list” for the new computer and not checking to make sure it was compatible!

NEVER A DELL AGAIN!

#15

Dave, I’d recommend that you build your own. It isn’t that hard, they are far more reliable and you get what you want, not some packaged deal that someone else thinks you need. Definitely not any more technical than installing RC and batteries in a locomotive.

#16
Warren Mumpower said:
Dave, I'd recommend that you build your own. It isn't that hard, they are far more reliable and you get what you want, not some packaged deal that someone else thinks you need. Definitely not any more technical than installing RC and batteries in a locomotive.
Nah. If he builds it himself, he'll expect it to last for 38 years, like his Ford.

Just as well Dave didn’t buy a computer same time he bought his Ford. Imagine the strife he’d be in trying to buy replacement vacuum tubes for it! I can hear the sales assistant now: “You wanna buy a WHAT?!!”

#17

Although this computer is somewhat new…about 3 years old, I’m running others that are older and they are holding up just fine. The problem is that the ready built computers are junk. When you build your own you get YOUR choice of motherboards, video cards, sound, chips and removable media drives…not what they say you need that will crap out on you in a year…and a day. A home built computer also allows you to upgrade as your needs require, not have to purchase a whole new computer.

#18
geoff george said:
I hated to lose the old one with 2000 but time took its toll on that one.
I miss 2000 pro as well....it was so stable
#19

The unit I have now is old.
As in VERY old.
Remnants of 95, ME and 2000 seem to be strewn about.
It was built up, and used for development work at some company in question.

Old “server” size, what, 30" tall, 24" deep, and about 10" wide.
5 or 6 fans in it (took them out one at a time last year, fully disassembled each, cleaned, lubed and re-assembled, then re-installed to quiet them down).

XP Pro.

Keyboard and monitor are from my original 95 computer.

Hey, what’s wrong with Vacuum Tubes?

#20
Curmudgeon said:
Hey, what's wrong with Vacuum Tubes?
They keep clogging up with dust.